Manually manipulable toy in the nature of an animated, climbing figure



April 10, 1951 J. J. HUNTSBERRY 2,547,943 MANUALLY MANIPULABLE TOY IN THE NATURE OF AN ANIMATED, CLIMBING FIGURE Filed Feb. 9, 1948 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 l'l/IANUALLY MANIPULABLE TOY IN THE NATURE OF AN ANIMATED, CLIMBING FIGURE ATENT r1 James J. Huntsberry, Kansas City, Mo. Application February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,139

1 Claim.

, This invention relates broadly to new anduseful improvements in acrobatic toys.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an acrobatic toy that is amusing and entertainin in use.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide an acrobatic toy that is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an acrobatic toy that is strong and rugged in construction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an acrobatic toy that can be operated and enjoyed by small preschool children as well as older persons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a toy embodying the invention showing the articulated acrobatic figure comprising a part thereof in fully erect position;

.Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing another position of the acrobatic figure in use;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing still another position of the acrobatic figure in use; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing yet another position of the acrobatic figure in use.

Considered in certain of its broader aspects, the toy embodying the present invention comprises a figure having swingable arm and leg members which are pivoted at their ends to respective actuator eements. According to the present invention, the actuator members are arranged in generally parallel relation and are relatively slidable with respect to each other. As the two actuator elements are reciprocated, the figure executes various acrobatic maneuvers and generally behaves in a comic and entertaining manner.

While any selected or desirable figure may be used in the instant device, I have shown, for the purpose of i lustration, a figure which simulates a monkey. As clearly shown in the drawing, the figure has a body H] which includes an integral head I2. As suggested, a pair of arm members M and I6 are disposed at opposite sides of the body H], which arm members are located substantially at the shoulder portions of the body and are fastened thereto by a suitable pivot l8. Similarly, a pair of leg members 29v and 22 are provided at opposite sides of the body It, and the leg members are fastened to the lower end of the body by a pivot 24. In order to enhance the comic appearance of the figure and to render it more natural and lifeike, a tie or cravat is provided around the neck portion of the body It, and a cap 28 is fastened on the head l2. A tail 3!] is tacked or otherwise fastened on the lower portion of the body It. All of the various parts of the figure may be suitably formed or curved to give them a realistic appearance; however, the body ill should be maintained uniform in thickness so that corresponding arm and leg members lie in substantially the same plane. In other words, the arm member it should be in the same plane as the leg member 28, and the arm member It should be in the same plane as the leg member 22.

Two actuator elements 32 and 34 are provided. One end of actuator element 32 is disposed between the free or distal ends of leg members 20 and 22, and the leg members are fastened thereto by a pivot 36. At the opposite end thereof, the actuator element 32 is formed with a lateral extension 38, and the latter is provided with a longitudinal bore 49 which slidably receives and forms a bearing for the actuator element 3t. In the form of the invention here shown, actuator element 34 is in the form of an elongated dowel or rod, and one end thereof carries an adapter 42 which fits snugly between the distal or free ends of arm members It and it and is fastened thereto by a pivot 44. A knob 4-5 or other suitable handgrip is fastened to the other end of actuator element 34. Both actuator elements 32 and 34 preferably are relatively rigid so that they will not be appreciably deflected by the weight figure when they are actuated to operate the latter. In this connection, it will be observed that the two actuator elements 32 and 34 are disposed in genera ly parallel relation and that element 34 is substantially longer than element 32. In practice, element 34 should be sufiiciently longer than element 32 so that the figure will be held in its fully erect position when the parts are positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the two arm members It and it are free to swing about the pivots l8 and 44 and that the two leg members 2!] and 22 are free to swing about the pivots 24 and 35. Also, the two actuator elements 32 and 34 are longitudinally slidable with respect to each other within limits defined by the articulated figure attached thereto. The fact that the actuator elements are inherently relatively rigid and the elongated bearing provided by bore 43, maintains the actuator elements in general parallel relation at all times.

In operation, the two actuator elements 32 and 34 are reciprocated back and forth to cause the animated figure to execute a series of movements which are lifelike and entertaining to observe. When the actuator elements 32 ant 34 are at one end of their travel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the animated figure is fully erect. If the actuator element 32 is then pushed upwardly on actuator element 34; or, conversely, the actuator element 34 is pulled downwardly relative to the actuator element 32, (as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2) the articulated figure on the ends of the elements swings outwardly or laterally therefrom and the arm members l4 and I6 approach the leg members 20 and 22. Continued movement of the actuator elements 32 and 34 in the above manner brings the arm members 14 and 16 against the pivoted ends of the leg members 20 and 22, as shown in Fig. 3. As the arm members It and 16 are in the same plane as the corresponding leg members 20 and 22, the arms bear against the pivoted ends of the legs. Continued movement of the actuator elements 32 and 34, as described above and as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, causes the entire figure to swing in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) about the pivot 33. As the pivot 44 moves to a position below pivot 3-5 the figure swings to an arc of approximately 180 and assumes a position substantially as shown in Fig. 5. By the time the actuator elements 32 and 34 are at the end of their stroke the animated figure has assumed a position substantially as shown in Fig. 4.

When the actuator members 32 and 3 3 are reciprocated in a reverse direction, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 4, the arm members 14 and I6 are pushed upwardly against the pivoted ends of leg members 20 and 22, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position, they arms l4 and I6 bear against the pivoted ends of the legs 20 and 22 at one side of the pivot 36 so that pressure imposed by the arms against the legs causes the figure to swing in the direction of the arrow (Fig. As the pivot 44 moves figure swings through an angle of approximately 180 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to substantially the position shown in Fig. 3. Continued movement of the actuator elements in this direction again moves the figure to an erect position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that operation of the parts in the manner described causes the articulated figure to rock or upwardly past pivot 36 the swing back and forth on the upper end of the actuator elements and that the figure executes a fairly intricate maneuver during each complete reciprocation of the element. The action of the figure is interesting and amusing, and the toy as a whole affords considerable entertainment.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A toy of the kind and character described comprising an actuator having a perforated lateral projection at one end thereof; a second actuator slidably journalled in the perforation of said lateral projection on the first actuator for rectilinear movement therethrough; a body having a pair of swingable leg members pivoted to the other end of said first actuator and a pair of swingable arm members pivoted to the proximal end of the second actuator, said body interconnecting the said pair of leg members and said pair of arm members, said leg and arm members respectively being pivotally joined to the said body and the body being between the said leg and arm members, the said leg members having their pivotal connection to the said actuator to one side of the pivotal connection between the said arm members and the said second actuator, whereby upon sliding movement of the second actuator in one direction through the said bearing formed by the lateral projection on the first actuator, the ends of the leg members at the pivotal connection thereof with the first actuator engage the arm members to move the latter around the end of said second actuator from one side to the other, the said second actuator being of a length slightly greater than the combined length of the said first actuator and fully-extended figure, whereby further rectilinear movement of the first actuator extends the arm members, leg members and body of the figure to a position in substantial alignment with and beyond the end of the first actuator.

JAMES J. HU'NTSBERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 77,320 Pusey Apr. 28, 1868 465,071 Barnes Dec. 15, 1891 1,364,512 Ogden Jan. 4, 1921 

